Chapter 132: Confrontation

Pei Dongyong asked for instructions.

Li Wenqing pondered for a moment, then said:

"The Five Absolutes Sect acts secretly; we know little about them, so for now we should not alert them."

"The pressing matter is to first apprehend Jin Buhuan and bring him to justice."

Just then, a yamen runner assigned to monitor the Jin Zhuangyuan Jiulou hurried over to report.

"Sir, Jin Buhuan has made a move!"

"We discovered his cargo ship at the dock; a large amount of private salt is hidden in a secret compartment of the hold!"

Li Wenqing's eyes narrowed; selling private salt is a grave offense!

"Immediately dispatch personnel to seize this batch of private salt and apprehend Jin Buhuan!"

"Yes!"

The yamen runner received the order and departed.

Jiang Xiaomu and Pei Dongyong exchanged a glance, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes.

It seems Jin Buhuan's fox tail is finally about to show.

On the dock, the crowd buzzed; an apparently ordinary cargo ship lay quietly moored there.

The yamen runners swiftly surrounded the cargo ship and subdued the crew.

"What are you doing! We work for Mr. Jin!"

A burly man with a fierce face shouted loudly.

"Mr. Jin? Hmph, Mr. Jin can't even protect himself now!"

The yamen runner gave a cold snort, kicked the burly man in the gut, making him clutch his belly and groan.

The yamen runners searched the hold thoroughly and finally found a large amount of private salt in a hidden compartment.

These private salts were packed in sacks, stacked like a mountain.

"What a haul, this much private salt is enough for Jin Buhuan to drink a pot!"

A yamen runner exclaimed.

At the Jin Fu estate, Jin Buhuan was leisurely sipping tea in his study, utterly unaware of the looming danger.

"Master, something's wrong! Something's happened at the dock!"

A servant came running in, panicked.

Jin Buhuan furrowed his brows and said:

"What's there to panic about! Has the sky fallen?"

"Master, our cargo ship has been seized by the officials, and the private salt has been discovered!"

The servant, panting, said:

Jin Buhuan's face changed dramatically; his teacup made a 'Pa—' sound as it fell to the ground and shattered.

"How could this happen? How did the news leak?"

"Master, what should we do now?"

The servant asked anxiously.

Jin Buhuan forced himself to stay calm, knowing that panic would be useless now.

"Quick, prepare the sedan! I'm going to the county office!"

In the county office hall, Li Wenqing sat high on the bench, watching the escorted Jin Buhuan, his eyes full of coldness.

"Jin Buhuan, do you know your crime?"

Jin Buhuan forced a calm demeanor and said:

"Sir, I'm innocent! I have never sold private salt!"

"Caught red-handed, yet you still want to deny it?"

Li Wenqing threw a sack of private salt in front of Jin Buhuan.

"This was seized from your cargo ship!"

Jin Buhuan's face turned ashen; he knew he could not escape this disaster.

"Sir, spare my life! I was just momentarily confused!"

Jin Buhuan knelt on the ground, desperately pleading.

"Hmph, merely confused? You trafficked in private salt, reaped huge profits, disregarded the law—your crime is unforgivable!"

Li Wenqing shouted angrily.

Jin Buhuan wanted to say more, but the yamen runners dragged him away.

"Sir, what should we do next?"

Pei Dongyong asked.

Li Wenqing pondered for a moment, then said:

"Although Jin Buhuan has been captured, the Five Absolutes Sect leader remains at large."

"We must swiftly apprehend him to eliminate future trouble!"

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, yet he felt a faint unease in his heart.

He always felt that behind this there might be a greater conspiracy.

Late at night, with all quiet, Jiang Xiaomu sat alone in his room, meditating to calm his inner unease.

At this moment, the system voice sounded in his ear;

【The Five Absolutes Sect leader will take revenge on the host; tonight he will come to assassinate.】

【If the host is defeated and killed, the leader, to leave no witnesses, will also kill Jiang Xiaoyu.】

【Lao Da escaped from Wangjiang Cheng, whereabouts unknown!】

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted.

The Five Absolutes Sect Leader would actually come to the door himself?

Also good, saves me the trouble of looking for him again.

He glanced at the hourglass; it was just past the Xu hour, time still early; rather than sit idly waiting, better to await the enemy at ease.

Walking into the courtyard, the stone table was set with the prepared tea set.

Jiang Xiaomu brewed tea, held the long saber that had accompanied him for years, leaned sideways on the bamboo chair, closed his eyes to rest.

"Brother, what are you doing here?"

A clear voice broke the courtyard's tranquility.

Jiang Xiaomu opened his eyes, looking at his sister's innocent face, a warmth welled up in his heart.

He ruffled Jiang Xiaoyu's hair, speaking softly:

"Xiao Yu, Brother has a friend coming tonight, stay in your room obediently."

"No matter what happens outside, don't come out, understand?"

Jiang Xiaoyu tilted her head, asking doubtfully:

"What kind of friend? So mysterious."

Jiang Xiaomu feigned mystery with a smile.

"A very important friend; Brother wants to catch up with him privately."

Although Jiang Xiaoyu was curious in her heart, she still nodded obediently.

No matter what Brother does, she will support him unconditionally.

Jiang Xiaomu watched Jiang Xiaoyu return to her room, then closed his eyes again, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Five Absolutes Sect Leader.

As the Zi hour approached, a faint footstep sound suddenly came from the courtyard.

Jiang Xiaomu snapped his eyes open—he's here!

The footsteps stopped outside the courtyard gate; Jiang Xiaomu gripped the sword hilt, his knuckles whitening slightly.

The confrontation he had anticipated did not occur; the courtyard gate creaked open as someone pushed it from outside.

The visitor wore no mask, acted no sneakily, and just walked in openly.

His demeanor was as casual as returning home.

In the dim yellow moonlight, Jiang Xiaomu made out the visitor's face and froze.

It was actually the man he had met that night at the tavern, carrying a longsword!

How could he be the Five Absolutes Sect Leader?

Jiang Xiaomu's mind raced, trying to recall everything from that night.

At the time, he only felt this person's bearing was extraordinary, certainly not an ordinary individual.

Yet he never imagined that this person was actually the Five Absolutes Sect Leader!

The man seemed not surprised by Jiang Xiaomu's reaction, walking straight to the stone table.

He poured himself a cup of tea, drank it in one gulp, then slowly spoke.

"Good tea."

Jiang Xiaomu remained wary, coldly asking:

"Who are you?"

The man set down his teacup, the corner of his mouth curling into a teasing smile.

"How come, we drank together that night, and you forgot so quickly?"

Jiang Xiaomu then recalled that night, when he and Hawei were drinking, this man sat at the neighboring table.

At that time, the two had even raised their glasses to each other, though they had not spoken.

"So it's you!"

Jiang Xiaomu suddenly understood, yet his doubts grew stronger.

Five Absolutes Sect Leader, how could we have such a "fate"?

The man did not answer Jiang Xiaomu's question, merely chuckled lightly and said:

"I know you want to capture me, and I want to kill you; since that's the case, let's see the real skill in our hands."

Straightforward and decisive, with no hesitation.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank; this Five Absolutes Sect Leader was indeed a ruthless figure.